Hey that chute on the Mars lander looks like a Top Flight Recovery chute. I think its something that the shape they used is still a old style dome shaped chute.
Gary

I'm amused by Jon Bardin's (LA Times) news article:
"you can clearly see Curiosity, its parachute deployed, floating toward the surface"
Floating? 200 MPH decent rate under chute, is NOT "floating" !

Gary, I didn't think your 52 foot diameter chute had a spill hole, is this a new design ?

Pb